Energy and marine resources

The growing world population will need more and more food and energy. Sustainable use of marine resources will help to meet this demand.

Photo: Bjørn Luell/Statkraft

Norway is a maritime nation and has built up wide-ranging know-how on energy and marine resources. Norwegian experts have developed technology for sustainable development of natural resources. Our areas of expertise include renewable hydropower, fish and seafood, offshore oil and gas production, and fisheries and energy aid to developing countries.

Knowledge about the oceans and the resources they provide will continue to be vital for future generations. We must establish sound regimes for resource use so that the blue economy can grow sustainably. This means working towards high environmental standards that are enforced both nationally and internationally.

In 2017, the Government presented a new ocean strategy. It takes as a starting point Norway’s history as a maritime nation, and focuses on the sustainable use and development of the oceans.

ensure effective implementation of the law of the sea and environmental legislation at both national and international level

ensure that value creation in the blue economy is based on sustainable use of marine resources

Oil and gas 40 % of exports

The total export value of crude oil and natural gas in 2015 was around NOK 450 billion. This is approximately 40 % of the total value of Norway’s exports.

Oil for Development

Norway has long experience of managing petroleum resources in a way that promotes sustainable economic growth and Norwegian welfare. We are now sharing this experience with 12 other countries through the Oil for Development programme.

Major hydropower producer

Norway is the world’s sixth largest hydropower producer, and the largest in Europe.

ACTION

highlighting the importance of the oceans as a source of food and energy

using our energy resources, seas and marine resources sustainably

promoting the development of sustainable solutions for resource use

promoting the development of expertise on sustainable and integrated marine management

playing a leading role in the fight against marine litter and microplastics in the oceans

Undiscovered resources

Huge areas of the oceans are still largely unexplored, and are likely to provide the world with minerals and other as yet undiscovered resources.

Plastic waste

Researchers are concerned about the increasing amounts of plastic waste in the seas, and the consequences this will have for marine life.

36 million seafood meals a day

In 2015, Norway exported an average of 36 million seafood meals every day.

Norway and the UK

Energy and marine relations

The UK depends on imports to cover its energy demand, and Norway is responsible for over 60% of the total gas demand, being the single biggest supplier of gas to the UK. Most of Norwegian export to the UK relates to oil and gas. The UK is one of Norway’s biggest oil and gas export markets.

The North Sea Link In 2021, the North Sea Link (NSL) will connect the UK and Norway’s electricity systems via subsea cables, allowing the two countries to trade power. NSL will connect the electricity systems of the two countries via high voltage subsea cables from Kvilldal in Norway to Blyth in the UK. Statnett, the Norwegian energy system operator, and UK’s National Grid will build the NSL.

Linking Nordic and British energy markets will bring a number of benefits, including:

Increasing the security of electricity supplies for both countries

Providing opportunities for shared use of renewable energy

Providing additional transmission capacity for electricity to be traded between both countries, supporting economic growth in Norway and the UK

Norway has a strong presence in the UK concerning energy supply, as well as renewable energy. Statkraft and Statoil have significant involvement in UK offshore wind, such as the Sheringham Shoal wind farm off the coast of Norwich, which opened in September 2012. The windfarm can supply power to 200 000 households. The companies are also engaged in the large wind power projects Dungeons and Doggerbank.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) works to promote the development of alternative energy sources, rational energy policies and multinational energy technology cooperation. The IEA has 26 member countries.

Norway has long experience of managing petroleum resources in a way that promotes sustainable economic growth and Norwegian welfare. We are now sharing this experience with 12 other countries through the Oil for Development programme.